The amended package will still have to be passed by the House and sent to Trump for his signature, a process that could take days
The compromise legislation authorizes government funding through 30 January 2026 and undoes the firings of federal workers that the White House carried out after the shutdown began. It also guarantees retroactive pay for furloughed federal workers and those who stayed on the job during the shutdown, and prevents further layoffs through January. Included in the compromise are three appropriations bill that will authorize spending through the 2026 fiscal year for the departments of agriculture and veterans affairs, among others.
The compromise does not resolved the issue of the Affordable Care Act premiums, which one study forecast would jump by an average of 26% if the tax credits were allowed to expire.
As part of the deal, Thune said he would allow a vote on a bill to deal with the credits by the second week of December. But even if it succeeds, Republican House speaker Mike Johnson has said he will not put such a measure on the floor.
OK, this is starting to make sense.
The deal says “You have to put the ACA subsidies to a vote by December. In return, we’ll fund the government until January.”
So they’re not giving up their leverage, because if the Republicans fuck around the Dems can just slam the brakes on again right away. Meanwhile it puts the ball squarely in the Republicans court to actually do something about this issue that is raising healthcare prices for people all across America. It puts the focus on the Republican controlled House, and on Trump, letting the public really see who is fighting for them and who isn’t.
I know it’s easy to assume that this is another example of Shumer caving (God only knows, he does it so much I’m starting to think his spine is a paper straw), but looking at the details I’m starting to think this is actually a solid play.
They’re giving up a big part of it. They’re funding several different departments through 2026.
Democratic senators voting in favor:
- Dick Durbin (Illinois)
- Angus King (Maine, independent caucusing with Democrats)
- Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire)
- Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire)
- Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada)
- Jacky Rosen (Nevada)
- John Fetterman (Pennsylvania)
- Tim Kaine (Virginia)
